NJA says CM asked it to put off kar seva

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

VADODARA, Nov 15: The issue surrounding the proposed kar seva at the Kevadia Colony by the Narmada Jan Andolan (NJA) has taken a new turn with the Andolan now at loggerheads with the Gujarat Government after the latter's statement that the kar seva was likely to prejudice the Supreme Court in the Narmada case.

Highly placed sources say that at a meeting held with the NJA members on November 13, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel told them to postpone the programme. NJA was also asked to hold a meeting with Narmada Abhiyan (NA), a group of non-government organisations, to decide on the timing of the agitation.

Madan Diwan, spokesman of NJA, told Express Newsline on Monday that they told the Chief Minister and the NGO representatives that they would go ahead with the kar seva as per schedule from December 4.

``We are at loggerheads with the State Government,'' Diwan said, adding that it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister was not taking into consideration the interests of the masses.

It may be recalled that soon after the plans to hold the kar seva were announced, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh had written a letter to Gujarat Chief Minister stating that it would be improper to hold such a programme as the Narmada matter is in the Supreme Court.

Diwan said ``the NJA is unhappy that the Chief Minister is helping the cause of the NBA by interfering in the time, place and mode of kar seva planned by the NJA''.

He alleged that the CM's narrow political game might result in the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) getting indefinitely delayed.

Diwan further alleged that the CM was deliberately trying to sabotage the kar seva through the organisations loyal to the ruling party. The NJA has appealed the masses to come forward for the kar seva and defeat what they claim as ``Keshubhai-Medha axis''.